Hugh H. "Hampy" Wilson
Hugh Wilson, known as Hamp or Hampy to his friends and community was born on March 9, 1927. He lived with his father and mother, High and Ruby LeMaster Wilson on Grand Avenue until he became an adolescent and the family moved to Kirkland Avenue. His sister is Judy Warren of Twin Creek Road.
Hampy was an outstanding student at Irvine High School. He excelled as well in basketball, football and baseball. He was captain of the basketball team which was the first team to defeat Hazard, and did so twice in 1945. He was a member of the Glee Club and All State Chorus under the direction of Peggy Shumate. He was the Sports editor of the Commentator, the school newspaper and was the male lead in the senior class play.
Hampy worked during his high school days at Harry Cockrell’s Clothing Store, Rowland Drug Store and in the L&N Yard office after high school graduation while attending Eastern Kentucky University.
He served in the Navy in the amphibious service during World War II. He graduated from the Army’s Command and General Staff College in Leavenworth, Kansas and also the Associate Logistics Development Course, in Fort Lee, Virginia. He received his Bachelor’s Degree from Rollins College in Winter Park, FL ,and a Master’s Degree from the Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne, FL.
Eventually, Hampy was employed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). At NASA he served on the staffs of Dr. Werner von Braun, Dr. Kurt Debus, Dr. Hans Rudolph and other members of the original group of German scientists who were the core of NASA scientists and who made space flight possible. After more than 30 years of service, he retired as a Senior Executive of NASA, having served at NASA Headquarters in Washington, DC, and as the Director of Procurement Policy for all of NASA. He was the Director of Procurement and Contracts at the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama where he managed a staff of procurement professionals and had procurement budget in excess of $2.5 billion. He participated as a member of the launch support team for all manned moon launches from Kennedy Space Center, FL. He led the negotiation team that resolved the contractual settlement for the Challenger accident , for which he received NASA’s second highest medal. He is also the recipient of the NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal, the NASA exception Service Medal and the NASA Medal for outstanding Leadership.
Hampy is a retired Army Reserve Colonel having filled senior reserve positions in the Pentagon and Ordinance Installations throughout the nation during the final ten years of his active reserve service. He received the Defense Meritorious Service and the Army Commendation Medals, plus numerous other service medals and ribbons.
Since 1988, Hampy has operated his own consulting business, specializing in the management of government procurement and contacting activities. He is considered an expert in his field and provides services to many of the major aerospace companies throughout the nation.
Since retiring, Hampy continues to be very active in his community by serving on many boards and in service organizations too numerous to mention. He currently lives in Tallahassee, Florida with his wife of 57 years, Margaret “Peggy” Park Wilson of Madison County. They have two children, Mark Hampton Wilson(Debbie) and Lisa Branch (Bill). They have two grandchildren Luke Wilson and Catherine Branch.
Hampy was an outstanding student at Irvine High School. He excelled as well in basketball, football and baseball. He was captain of the basketball team which was the first team to defeat Hazard, and did so twice in 1945. He was a member of the Glee Club and All State Chorus under the direction of Peggy Shumate. He was the Sports editor of the Commentator, the school newspaper and was the male lead in the senior class play.
Hampy worked during his high school days at Harry Cockrell’s Clothing Store, Rowland Drug Store and in the L&N Yard office after high school graduation while attending Eastern Kentucky University.
He served in the Navy in the amphibious service during World War II. He graduated from the Army’s Command and General Staff College in Leavenworth, Kansas and also the Associate Logistics Development Course, in Fort Lee, Virginia. He received his Bachelor’s Degree from Rollins College in Winter Park, FL ,and a Master’s Degree from the Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne, FL.
Eventually, Hampy was employed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). At NASA he served on the staffs of Dr. Werner von Braun, Dr. Kurt Debus, Dr. Hans Rudolph and other members of the original group of German scientists who were the core of NASA scientists and who made space flight possible. After more than 30 years of service, he retired as a Senior Executive of NASA, having served at NASA Headquarters in Washington, DC, and as the Director of Procurement Policy for all of NASA. He was the Director of Procurement and Contracts at the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama where he managed a staff of procurement professionals and had procurement budget in excess of $2.5 billion. He participated as a member of the launch support team for all manned moon launches from Kennedy Space Center, FL. He led the negotiation team that resolved the contractual settlement for the Challenger accident , for which he received NASA’s second highest medal. He is also the recipient of the NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal, the NASA exception Service Medal and the NASA Medal for outstanding Leadership.
Hampy is a retired Army Reserve Colonel having filled senior reserve positions in the Pentagon and Ordinance Installations throughout the nation during the final ten years of his active reserve service. He received the Defense Meritorious Service and the Army Commendation Medals, plus numerous other service medals and ribbons.
Since 1988, Hampy has operated his own consulting business, specializing in the management of government procurement and contacting activities. He is considered an expert in his field and provides services to many of the major aerospace companies throughout the nation.
Since retiring, Hampy continues to be very active in his community by serving on many boards and in service organizations too numerous to mention. He currently lives in Tallahassee, Florida with his wife of 57 years, Margaret “Peggy” Park Wilson of Madison County. They have two children, Mark Hampton Wilson(Debbie) and Lisa Branch (Bill). They have two grandchildren Luke Wilson and Catherine Branch.